THE BASICS:
 
- Location: St. Louis, Mo. (Dwight Davis Tennis Center)
 
- The Lead: Competing in the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Singles Championship on Saturday, first-year Katya Shepherd Johnson (Takoma Park, Md.) recorded a pair of victories to advance to the quarterfinals. This marks the third year in a row the MIT women's tennis team has been represented in this round.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- In the first round, Shepherd Johnson built a 4-0 advantage in the first set against Gabi Moss (Washington & Lee), but she battled back to tie the frame at 4-4. Shepherd Johnson earned a hard-fought win in the next game after going up 40-15 and then won the next four points to secure the set at 6-4. In the second set, Shepherd Johnson won the first two games, however, Moss claimed the next two. Shepherd Johnson replied by rattling off four straight victories to capture the match.
 
- In the round of 16, Shepherd Johnson faced Angie Zhou (Pomona-Pitzer), the No. 2 seed and 2023 national champion. Shepherd Johnson opened the match by winning the first two games, however, Zhou claimed the next two. Shepherd Johnson countered by winning the next four to register a 6-2 decision in the first set. After breaking each other's serves in the first two games of the second set, Zhou took a 2-1 edge on her serve. Both players traded games until a service break gave Zhou a 5-3 lead before taking the set at 6-3.
 
- The third set started like the second, except Shepherd Johnson took the early 2-1 lead. Zhou won the next two games; however, Shepherd Johnson broke back to tie the set at 3-3. The exchange of games resumed until Shepherd Johnson took a 5-4 lead. Both players held serve for the next two games and then Zhou quickly went up 40-0 in what proved to be the decisive game. Shepherd Johnson chipped away at the deficit and eventually captured the 7-5 victory.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Shepherd Johnson returns to action on Sunday, May 26 with a quarterfinal match-up against No. 7 seeded Matia Cristiani (Babson College) that will begin no earlier than 11:00 a.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Central).
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.